Marine stereo
 

Just got a new Garmin 192C GPS for navigating the florida waterways, and now its time to redo the stereo.

My stereo unlike most cigs is under a waterproff lid above the cabin door in the cockpit. It is a clarion single cd with a small amp, two Babb speakers in the cockpit, and two clarion 5" speakers in the cabin.

What i want -----------

Waterproff CD head unit so i dont have to use the flip up door on the stereo cover, one remote (with digital readout) for the driver, one for the passenger, and one back by the swimplatform (great for adjusting stations while lounging on the back, and swimming)

Good Amp - nothing crazy

Thump (speakers) - has to have a little thump to it, either keep the babbs (I have heard they suck, or find somthing to replace them and fit in the existing hole. And add additional speakers, under the rear seat, alond the sides, ext.

So what should i buy -

Wild

Re: Marine stereo
 

Well the kenwood is a nice unit you can get a Y-connector to use more then one remote. I-pod ready also.... Amp and speakers I like the Memphis Audio's marine products and the polk. But you should try to listen to a few different speakers first. I find all speakers will give different sound, some you may like more then others.....

http://www.kenwoodusa.com/products/L...k3=171&pr=2119

http://www.memphiscaraudio.com/products/family.asp?id=8

http://www.polkaudio.com/caraudio/products/marine/

Re: Marine stereo
 

That is the hardest part, where can you go to listen to a bunch of different marine speakers in the same place, West marine only has a few and any other stereo place may only carry one brand.

Wild

Re: Marine stereo
 

At the lake. Seriously.

Making a decision at a store on a sound room, may lead to disappointing expectations after installed in your boat.

Re: Marine stereo
 

I agree US1, thats why i am looking for the power of the boar to help me out

Re: Marine stereo
 

Heres an reciever I am looking at to install inside my cabin to double as a DVD player to connect to a flat screen. Waterproof, wired AND wirelss remote. The wired remotes have a very nice display.

http://www.rocktheboataudio.com/html/27978.html

remote:
http://www.rocktheboataudio.com/html/27979.html

Re: Marine stereo
 

If your looking for quality then stay away from Jensen. All the products I showed will more then rock you boat..... Remember that good sound needs more then a great speaker, it all starts with the right head unit (radio). Most specialty car audio stores should be able to help. Not the Best Buys or Curcuit Citys.... I work for Sunsation and the kenwood radio and remotes is in all our new boats.

Re: Marine stereo
 

Any or the high line audio stores should be able to help you with quality products. They should also be able to tell you what products they have or can get that are marine built.

I have a Alpine head unit in my boat. With two Kicker Amps and six Kicker Marine Speakers. They are built for the high moisture climate so the speakers dont rot out and crumble. For the thump, two of th Speakers are 12". It thumps just fine.

Re: Marine stereo
 

As a guy that did car/boat audio for many years.....

Don't fall for the over priced marine speakers. Any polyprop speaker (basically any material that is not paper) will work fine. Head units that are marine do have a special coating on the board so if the radio is in a spot that may get wet or moist, or you are in a salt water area get that. If it is in the cabin a regular car audio head will work just fine.

As for getting the right speakers, the sugestions to goto a local car audio specialist shop and get their recomendations are best. Even listening to other peoples boats won't help if they are not installed in a simlar fasion on your boat. The box the speaker is in (or not in) makes a big differnce on how it will sound. Sound is also greatly affected by where the speakers are placed.

As to what brand to buy... man there are alot of good brands, and name is not everything. We used to use some Prestige speakers that were great and cost no more than the Jensen that somebody said was bad above. Every brand has a good better best, so the Jensen stuff is not all bad. The only brand I can say stay away from is Pyramid, that is all flee markett stuff.

Go to your local marina they probably have somebody that they use for their stereo installs.

Re: Marine stereo
 

I'm to understand the PolyPlanar (sp?) is the best thing for marine use. I've seen them on Ship Shape TV and they literally hose it down and nothing internally gets wet. It's made specificly for marine use and is not just a car stereo with a "marine" label on it.